No alliance with Congress for Lok Sabha polls, says Nitish Kumar

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has put to rest all speculation regarding a possible alliance between his Janata Dal (United) and the Indian National Congress for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Nitish reportedly said that the JD(U) was not going in for an alliance with the Congress, adding his party had never sought the same.

There had been talk of Nitish joining hands with the Congress ahead of the 2014 general elections,
in return for a special status for Bihar.
However, of late Nitish had accused the Congress of changing its mind on extending spacial status to Bihar after initially indicating a positive response.

The Bihar CM has instead been talking about a possible Third Front springing up before the polls.

Nitish yesterday called fellow Bihar politician and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan “a gentleman” signalling doors were still open for a truck with the LJP.
However, while thanking Nitish for the praise, Paswan said his party was an ally of the Congress.

"I thank Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the respect and kind words. We have been old friends," Paswan said.

The Congress, meanwhile, is reported to be mulling an alliance with Lalu Prasad`s Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar for the LS polls.